The Switch Beer and Food Hall begins operations during pandemic as food hall in Blackstone District
Juli Oberlander • September 27, 2021
The Switch Beer and Food Hall begins operations during pandemic as food hall in Blackstone District
Photos from The Switch Beer and Food Hall Facebook page
One of his first business decisions was to add Dirty Birds to the restaurant lineup. Its spicy, Nashville-style chicken has been a popular favorite at The Switch since it opened at the beginning of 2021, according to the Omaha World-Herald.
Following The Switch's opening, the food hall has continued to be pandemic-friendly, as tenants move in on 25-day rolling leases, allowing them to experiment with concepts and determine if they want to stay permanently. The Switch provides chefs with a roof, bay and equipment already, and the bar has a revolving group of bartenders.
By bringing in different tenants, Bartholomew told the World-Herald he seeks to keep the food hall fresh, with new choices for customers each time they visit. Bartholomew also helps tenants figure out business plans, offering guidance to aid restaurants in surviving the pandemic. At The Switch, Bartholomew and his team seek to build relationships with restaurant owners and chefs, helping them to diversify their operations by moving into a food hall setting.
In addition to running The Switch, Bartholomew launched Dundee Hard Ice Cream Co., which serves ice ice cream with liquor. Along with ice cream and chicken from Dirty Birds, food hall customers can order meals from Ansel’s Pastrami and Bagels, Roast Coffee House, El Arepon and MiniBar, "the biggest little bar in Blackstone." Customers can also order pickup from El Arepon, Ansel's and Dirty Birds.
Certified as a 3-Star Certified Green Restaurant™ by the Green Restaurant Association, The Switch is the first food hall in the country and only the second restaurant in Nebraska to earn this status, according to its website. The Switch’s six kitchens, bar and food hall staff worked together to implement over 50 steps to meet the certification standards and are committed to continuing to decrease their environmental impact.
Along with these efforts, The Switch works with partner Hillside Solutions
to collect food scraps, plates, bowls, napkins and cups for composting at Hillside Solutions' Soil Dynamics, where it is turned into nutrient-dense soil. The Switch uses the soil in its landscaping and to nourish its plants. The food hall also collaborates with Hillside Solutions to recycle anything in the kitchen and bar areas that isn't compostable.
At The Switch, Bartholomew and his team are dedicated to bringing a quality, sustainable dining experience to all customers. Visit the website
and Facebook page
to learn more about the food hall.
Read the article
from the Omaha World-Herald about Bartholomew's latest venture with The Switch.
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